Korean Job Discussion Forums

lookingforworkinasia · Joined: 14 Dec 2007

Hey, sorry if this has been discussed but I couldn't find anything useful.

Anyway, an old employer of mine has contacted me claiming that he over paid me during my time as an employee with him, and he claims I am required to return the money. Now, he's right. He paid me some extra money to do some extra work outside of the terms of my contract. I did it, and he paid me more than he said he would. Normally, I would have done the honest thing and brought his attention to this right away. He was a huge jerk though. I hated the guy. He treated everyone like crap. Pretty simple situation.

Now, he's claiming he wants the amount he over-paid me back. I'm wondering if I should give it to him? Am I legally obligated to return this money? It wasn't in the contract, therefore I never agreed to receive or return any of this money. I can't think of any legal reason to return the money, but obviously I will if he can use it to create problems with the police or another employer.

Although I realize it makes me kind of a jerk, I can live with that knowing I have relieved another jerk of money he probably didn't deserve anyway.

Thoughts?

Morticae · Joined: 06 May 2010

How much was it? Just a petty amount or a fairly substantial sum?

lookingforworkinasia · Joined: 14 Dec 2007

Well, I wouldn't say the amount is petty, but it isn't enough for either one of us to do anything drastic over. Not for me anyway, and presumably not for him.

pikachun1 · Joined: 09 May 2010

I think you should return the money. Granted he's a jerk, I don't think you should seek retribution by keeping what isn't yours. There are plenty of jerk bosses. If what he did to you was illegal, then that's a different story.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

Does he have it in writing where the amount was agreed upon? If not, legally I wouldn't think you'd have to return it. If he does, then yes, you should.

However, ethically, you should return it either way because it is, in a sense, stealing from him to keep money you shouldn't have gotten.

WTP Trust · Joined: 13 May 2010 Location: Hittin' the books at Yonsei

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Moral issue = return the money.

Legal issue = non issue (given your brief explanation of events).

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lookingforworkinasia · Joined: 14 Dec 2007

Is it really that unethical if I keep the money? I wouldn't waste it, I'd do something good and decent for the benefit of mankind if I kept it. For example, buy a round of drinks for strangers, treat the ladies in Itaewon to a classy meal, buy ice cream for my current students, etc.

But lots of good input here.

WTP Trust · Joined: 13 May 2010 Location: Hittin' the books at Yonsei

balzor · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

ChilgokBlackHole · Joined: 21 Nov 2009

ontheway · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:47 am Post subject:

Steve_Rogers2008 · Joined: 22 Mar 2010

and does the ex-boss know if you're still in-country.

Just keep telling him you'd need to see proof of this oversight, becanse by your calculations, things seemed to add up correctly. He may have even UNDERpaid you! Shocked

Ask to see the paperwork, and you'd have no problem paying it back. In person, of course. Trying to get him to waste so much time may be a good ploy to get him to forget about it.

Ethically is it OK to do? In this crazy digital economy, whose to say?

Wink